How can I banish a frog in my throat?

The most common cause of a hoarse voice, and tickly cough is a viral infection, and though most clear up within a few days, the symptoms can persist for a week or more.

Gargling with a solution of a soluble aspirin dissolved in a glass of warm water can often bring some relief.

Spit the solution out afterwards, and repeat every couple of hours. As with so many illnesses, smoking always makes throat problems worse, so cut down, or better still, stop as soon as possible, and avoid smoky atmospheres, as passive smoking can have an effect too.

Throat and voice problems can also be caused by using your voice too much - do you spend a lot of time talking loudly, shouting or singing?

If so, make a determined effort to rest your voice, which for some occupations can mean taking a few days off work.

An uncomfortable feeling in the throat, and a tickly cough, can also be caused by some medications, especially drugs known as ACE inhibitors, which are used to treat high blood pressure.

A fungal infection in the throat can also be to blame, which is more common in those using steroid inhalers for asthma.

Continually feeling that something is stuck in your throat can also be a sign of anxiety. So if your symptoms persist, go and see your doctor.